Eye Exam Information
This letter is to inform parents and/or guardians of a new law that has gone into effect beginning with the 2008-2009 school year concerning vision exams for children starting school for the first time. This law is important because there are many vision skills students need to be successful in school. It is estimated that about 80% of all learning is visual for children ages 12 and younger.
According to the new law, a parent or guardian of a child entering kindergarten or first grade is responsible for getting the comprehensive vision examination. The exam must be performed by a state licensed eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) or physician. The doctor will send the results of the examination to the Department of Health and Senior Services. A copy of the results will be given to the parent/guardian to provide to the school.
The student may be enrolled in school without the eye examination, but must have a completed exam on file no later than January 1, 2009, unless the child’s parent/guardian desires the child to be excused from the exam. In that case, the parent/guardian must provide a written letter to the appropriate school administrator (such as the building principal) requesting the child be excused from the vision examination. A student will not be denied attendance in school for failing to obtain a comprehensive vision exam.
More information regarding the Children's Vision Law can be found on the Department of Health and Senior Services website (www.dhss.mo.gov). If you have any questions, please feel free to call your school nurse Laurie Jansen at 636-456-6905 ext. 5359.
